Japan Press Weekly

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2014 June 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

Iwate residents call for early reopening of disaster-hit train routes

A group of Iwate Prefectural residents on June 18 called on the Transport Minister and East Japan Railway Company (JR-East) to resume operations of two lines running along Iwate’s coastal area which have been suspended since the 2011 massive earthquake and tsunami.

Seven Japanese Communist Party members of local assemblies in the prefecture took part in the representations, and JCP Lower House member Kokuta Keiji was also present.

More than three years have passed since the disaster. However, JR-East has yet to promise to reopen the two train routes, the Yamada Line and the Ofunato Line.

The petitioners handed over to Transport Minister Ota Akihiro 16,826 signatures demanding the resumption of operations of the two lines.

Maekawa Keichi, who heads the residents’ group and who lost his house in the disaster three years ago, said that old people are forced to spend a large amount of money on taxi fares to go to hospitals because the trains are not running.

JCP member of the Rikuzentakata City Assembly Fujikura Taiji said, “Our city cannot do without a train station. Restart of the Ofunato Line will bring relief to us.”

Transport Minister Ota in reply said that he understands that local residents see restoration of the railroad lines as a needed part of reconstruction. He added that he will try to have the problem resolved as soon as possible.